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College of IST Wage-Payroll GraduateAssistant

Part-time

Penn State University Talent Acquisition

University Park, PAPart-time$18–20/hrSeen 2w agoSeen in employer's feed 1 day ago

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At a glance

Compensation
$18–20/hr
Location
University Park, PA
Role Type
Research
Schedule
Part-time
Work Authorization
Not specified

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Job overview

The College of IST seeks a graduate assistant for an NSF-funded interdisciplinary research project on self-supervised visual learning inspired by human perception. The assistant will work with faculty and students on machine learning and computer vision research, including algorithm development, dataset preparation, experiments, and research outputs. Applicants must be currently enrolled in a Penn State graduate program; the role is part-time and pays $18–20 per hour depending on qualifications.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Artificial Intelligence, requiredComputer Vision, requiredMachine Learning, requiredPython, requiredDeep Learning Frameworks, nice to haveDeep Learning, requiredStatistical Learning, requiredScientific Programming, requiredData Analysis, requiredSoftware Development, requiredLinux, requiredAnalytical Skills, requiredProblem-Solving, requiredCommunication, requiredIndependent Work, requiredCollaboration, requiredOrganizational Skills, requiredAttention to Detail, requiredMechanical Engineering, nice to haveRobotics, nice to haveMaterials Science, nice to have

Qualifications

Current Penn State Graduate Enrollment, requiredPrior Research Experience, nice to haveResearch Publications, nice to haveOpen-Source Contributions, nice to have

Full job description

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: 1. CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday. 2. CURRENT PENN STATE STUDENT (not employed previously at the university) and seeking employment with Penn State, please login to Workday to complete the student application process. Please do not apply here, apply internally through Workday. 3. If you are NOT a current employee or student, please click "Apply" and complete the application process for external applicants. Approval of remote and hybrid work is not guaranteed regardless of work location.For additional information on remote work at Penn State, seeNotice to Out of State Applicants. JOB DESCRIPTION AND POSITION REQUIREMENTS The College of IST is seeking applicants for part-time job a part-time, wage payroll GraduateAssistant . The Wage-Payroll Graduate Assistant will contribute to an NSF-funded interdisciplinary research project investigating self-supervised visual learning inspired by human perception. Responsibilities may include developing and evaluating machine learning and computer vision algorithms; implementing and testing research software; preparing and processing image and video datasets; conducting experiments and statistical analyses; reviewing relevant scientific literature; assisting with studies as needed; documenting research findings; and supporting the preparation of manuscripts, presentations, and research reports. The student will work closely with faculty PIs (Profs.BradWyble of Psychology and James Wang of IST) and other students in a collaborative, interdisciplinary environment. Requirements, qualifications, and/or competencies: 1. Current enrollment in a graduate program at Penn State (M.S. or Ph.D.). 2. Background in artificial intelligence, computer vision, machine learning, or a closely related field. 3. Strong programming skills in Python; experience with PyTorch, TensorFlow, or similar deep learning frameworks is preferred. 4. Familiarity with computer vision, deep learning, or statistical learning methods. 5. Experience with scientific programming, data analysis, or software development in a Linux environment. 6. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills. 7. Ability to work both independently and collaboratively within an interdisciplinary research team. 8. Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail. 9. Prior research experience in mechanical engineering, robotics, materials science, or related application domains is a plus, but not required. 10. Prior research experience, publications, or open-source software contributions are desirable but not required. Compensation: The starting rate for this job is $18-20 depending on qualifications . BACKGROUND CHECKS/CLEARANCES Employment with the University will require successful completion of background check(s) in accordance with University policies. CAMPUS SECURITY CRIME STATISTICS Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act and the Pennsylvania Act of 1988, Penn State publishes a combined Annual Security and Annual Fire Safety Report (ASR). The ASR includes crime statistics and institutional policies concerning campus security, such as those concerning alcohol and drug use, crime prevention, the reporting of crimes, sexual assault, and other matters. The ASR is available for review here. EEO IS THE LAW Penn State is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 8 4-865-1473. Penn State is committed to and accountable for advancing equity, respect, and belonging. We embrace individual uniqueness, as well as a culture of belonging that supports equity initiatives, leverages the educational and institutional benefits of inclusion in society, and provides opportunities for engagement intended to help all members of the community thrive. We value belonging as a core strength and an essential element of the university's teaching, research, and service mission. Federal Contractors Labor Law Poster PA State Labor Law Poster Penn State Policies Copyright Information Hotlines Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or protected veteran status. If you are unable to use our online application process due to an impairment or disability, please contact 814-865-1473.

How this job compares

Set against the 681 open Research Assistant jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 10, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$18–20/hr
  • Pennsylvania median$12–16/hr38 hourly ranges
  • US median$18–25/hr275 hourly ranges

This range's midpoint, $19/hr, is 27% above the Pennsylvania median midpoint ($15/hr) — in the top quarter of Research Assistant hourly ranges in Pennsylvania.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 78 open Research Assistant jobs in Pennsylvania and 681 across the US. 4% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in Pennsylvania
Experience
Research Assistant postings that state a minimum ask for 1 year of experience at the median; the middle half ask for 1 to 2 years (152 postings).
Education
187 of the 681 open Research Assistant jobs (27%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 10, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

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